I was a student during Applewhite-Simms. My perspective was the fan base was split maybe 60-40 in Applewhite’s favor, but as someone said the Applewhite crowd was much louder. Simms had all the physical tools to be a legendary college QB, but he was often robotic in decision making. We had Benson, Scaife, Roy, and two other borderline NFL WRs, but ran stupid ass offensive concepts while being conservative and predictable. Good defensive opposing coaches feasted on these weaknesses. Applewhite was “coach on the field” with very limited physical skills (noodle arm, one or both bum knees, several inches shorter). He had no problem audibling out of Greg Davis’s stupid ass plays and often put us into wide open pass routes. The combination of his association with Ricky’s Heisman year, “heady” player, and underdog physical traits endeared him to many, especially among the current and former “fratboy” contingent of the fan base. Those teams had an 8-9 win floor with either QB. Many felt if the offensive coaches did a better job in scheme and play calling, the ceiling was higher with Simms. Applewhite had some horrible losses (‘99 KSU, ‘99 Big12 CCG, ‘00 Stanford, ‘00 OU 63-14), but Simms’s big (really, the only losses) were on bigger stage (‘01 CU rematch Big12CCG, ‘01 OU 14-3, ‘02 OU 35-24). Simms teams beat the shit out of aggy thrice, great win @Nebraska ‘02, ‘02 Cotton Bowl vs Saban LSU). The loud Applewhite fans glossed over his failures and limitations and still today blame Simms for not winning the national championship in ‘01 (like we would’ve been within 21 points of Miami…). Simms was loved by his teammates while most thought Applewhite was a dick. Fans shit all over Simms and vandalized his car, and Applewhite fans get mad that Simms doesn’t have the greatest things to say about UT. Applewhite cheated on his pregnant wife with an athletic trainer. Simms could’ve been better with better coaching, but his stats and W/L record didn’t leave much room for improvement. Applewhite probably would’ve won that Big12CCG, but got mauled by Miami. In the end, Greg Davis sucked and it didn’t matter who took the snaps.